PRECLINICAL DIABETES STUDY SHOWS POSITIVE RESULTS

Studies conducted at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh have found a marked amelioration of diabetes in a mouse model by a novel treatment strategy involving specific modification of the animal's own dendritic cells, thereby reversing diabetes in animal studies.

A Phase I trial is expected to begin sometime this spring and will include at least 15 patients over the age of 18, with Type 1 diabetes.

Dendritic cells are cells found in the bloodstream and normally function as one of nature's most efficient immune function cells. The cells identify foreign substances such as cancer cells, process these foreign substances, and then jumpstart the immune response by bringing these foreign substances to the attention of T cells.